Heney w



i (No Model.)

H. W. KING.

THILL COUPLING. No. 309,469. Patented Dec. 16, 1884.

WITNESSES: I INVENTOB. 6% 7 ATTORNEYS.

HENRY \V. KING, OF OANAAN, ASSIGNOR TO HIMSELF, AND THOMAS S. SMITH, OF OANAAN FOUR CORNERS, NElV YORK.

TH l LL=COUPLI NG.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 309,469, dated December 16, 1884.

Application filed May 23, 1884. [No model.)

To to whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, HENRY \V. KING, of Canaan, in the county of Columbia and State of New York, have invented a new and useful Improvement in Thin-Couplings, of which the following is a full, clear, and exact description.

Reference is to be had to the accompanying drawings, forming a part of this specification, in which similar letters of reference indicate corresponding parts in all the figures.

Figure l is a side elevation of my improvement. Fig. 2 is a plan view of the same. Fig. 3isa sectional side elevation of the same, taken through the line at as, Fig. 2.

The object of this invention is to prevent noise and promote security and convenience in the use of thill-couplings.

The invention consists in a thill-coupling constructed with a U shaped leather strap passed through the eye of the thill-iron, and

secured to the projecting end of the clip-yoke by a cap-plate and a bolt. The leather strap is secured against lateral movement between the projecting end of the clip-yoke and the cap-plate by flanges formed upon the side edges of one of the said parts. A U'shaped spring is placed upon the bend of the leather strap, between the projecting end of the clipyoke and the cap-plate, to start the said capplate from its seat when the fasteningbolt is removed, as will be hereinafter fully described.

A represents the bow, and B the yoke, of an axle-clip. The yoke B is extended forward, and is recessed upon the upper side of its forward end to receive the bend of the leather strap 0 and the eye D of the thilliron E.

Upon the side edges of the forward part of the yoke B are formed upwardly-projecting flanges F, to cover the edges of the leather strap 0 and cap-plate G, and hold the said strap and cap-plate from lateral movement. The cap-plate G is concaved upon the lower side of its forward end, to receive the bend of the leather strap 0 and the eye D of the thilliron E, and has a slight swell upon its upper side, to prevent the body of the said cap-plate from being made too heavy.

Upon the rear corners of the cap-plate G are formed laterally-projecting lugs H, which rest against the rear ends of the flanges F and assist in sustaining the draft-strain.

If desired, the side flanges, F, can be formed upon the side edges of the cap-plate G, and overlap the side edges of the projecting part of the yoke B and produce practically the same effect.

The cap-plate G and the leather strap G are secured in place by the bolt I, which passes through holes in the said cap'plate and leather strap, and is screwed into a screw-hole in the projecting part of the yoke B.

J is a Ushaped steel spring placed upon the bend of the leather strap, with its ends confined between the cap-plate G and the projecting end of the yoke B, so that when the screw-bolt I is loosened the said spring will start the said cap-plate from its seat, and thus facilitate its removal.

If desired, the arms of the spring J can be extended to the ends of the leather strap 0, as shown in Fig. 3, and perforated for the passage of the screw-bolt I, to give an increased strength to the coupling.

The strap 0 can be made of leather, rawhide, rubber, or other suitable flexible mate rial.

Having thus described my invention, I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patentl. A thill coupling constructed substan tially as herein shown and'described, and consisting of a U-shaped flexible strap passed through the eye of the thill-iron, and secured to the projecting end of the clipyoke by a cap-plate and bolt, as set forth.

2. In a thill coupling, the combination, with the projecting end of the clip-yoke B and the eye of the thill-iron, of the U-shaped leather strap C, the flanges F, the cap-plate G, and the bolt I, substantially as herein shown and described, whereby the thill-iron will be held securely in place, as set forth.

3. In a thill -coupling, the combination, with the projecting end of the clip-yoke B, the leather strap 0, the thill-iron E, the cap plate G, and the bolt I, of the U -shaped spring J, substantially as herein shown and described, whereby the said cap-plate will be started from its seat when the bolt is removed, as set forth.

HENRY W. KING. \Vi tnesses THOMAS S. SMITH, FRANCIS L. BEALIQ. 

